Are Any Naturals Still Wash and Go'ing Now That It's Getting Cooler?

[Janet']

I know that many naturals do not like Wash and Go's because of SSKs, tangles, etc. However, for me, once I learned how to detangle, wash and go's have been instrumental in helping me retain as much as I have retained...This is my first winter wearing my hair naturally (I was a straight haired natural for 4.5 years or so), so I'm wondering if I can continue to Wash and Go...Maybe I'll add a hat, or put my hair in a ponytail ...or maybe I should try diffusing...I'm interested in your thoughts, suggestions, or even alternatives (as I cannot cornrow or flat twist myself).

I also know that many naturals use this opportunity to wear their hair straight because of the cooler weather, so I know that I am going against the grain

Thanks Ladies,

 

[rockstar]

I've been diffusing on low speed, low heat.

 

[Mrs. Verde]

I wear wash n go's all year round. I live in a mild winter climate. I also don't get sick with a wet head. If you live in a cold climate area you could use cold/cool air diffuser so you don't go out with wet hair.

 

[sungtongs]

I just go out with wet hair (even when I had a relaxer and I'd cowash) because I wash my hair every morning for the most part. If you're concerned, just diffuse or blowdry on cool or low heat in the morning.

 

[Vashti]

I've been doing the wash and go for a very long time but in a couple of weeks I'm getting my hair braided. Now that I'm actually retaining some length I'm seeing too many SSKs for comfort.

 

[JC-Junkie]

Janet, how are you reducing your tangles and SSKs whilst wearing your wash and go's ?

TIA

 

[jouissance]

I live in NYC and am prone to colds and upper respiratory infections. I can only wash and go during warm or hot weather. I usually do lots of two-strand twists and may add extensions or other fake hair to the mix this year.

 

[SmilingElephant]

I'm liking this thread Janet'.....taking notes

 

[Grand Prix]

rockstar, you hair is beautiful!
Did diffusing happen to make you WnG last longer? I can't imagine diffusing every morning..

I've mostly been wearing ponytails since it's gotten colder, and while it is still wet when I leave in the morning it's not on my neck/clothes so it's not too bad. I also don't like how big WnG's look with my winter style.
This is my first winter with natural hair too, last year I also straightened.

 

[Fab_Nikki]

So can you use the diffuser on hair that is prone to frizz? I am worried my hair will be one ball of hair after I diffuse.

I plan to wash at night, put my Carefree on to keep it moisturized, then reapply alittle in the A.M. to refresh my curls. I don't know if that's RIGHT but that's what I plan to "try". LOL Its working thus far.

 

[Diva_Esq]

I cowash daily and wear a ponytail sometimes or use an EZ comb.

 

[SheenaVee]

I plan to carry on my wash and goes. I recently bought a diffuser so I use that to dry my hair because I do get cold if I leave the house with a wet head.

 

[Qtee]

I plan to alternate between wng and braid outs...I luv my wngs..but I seem to be prone to colds lately..so I needed an alternative..and my hair hates heat..so when I started diffusing (even with a heat protectant) I was seeing splits and breakage..so either i go out with a wet head or braid outs..This week has been braid outs..but I'm missing my WNG..so Idk what next week will bring..

ETA: last winter I wore a wig all winter..I missed my hair like crazy so I will not be doing that this winter..

 

[empressri]

I've still been doing it and I have to cowash after a couple of days cause my hair feels a bit dry and starts to get fuzzy but I sit under a tabletop dryer on warm for about 20 mins or so and then I might diffuse a bit so I don't have damp roots in morning.

 

[chebaby]

last year even through the snow storm i co washed everyday. i hate protective styles.
the only reason im going into protective styles(just twisting my own hair) this winter is because i feel like i need a break from my everyday routine. but for the most part i co wash and wear it out everyday. and i never diffuse.
it has helped me retain my growth and its my go to style.

 

[Janet']

I've still been doing it and I have to cowash after a couple of days cause my hair feels a bit dry and starts to get fuzzy but I sit under a tabletop dryer on warm for about 20 mins or so and then I might diffuse a bit so I don't have damp roots in morning.

Your hair!!! Girl

I'm liking this thread Janet'.....taking notes

Yes ma'am, this will be you in the not-to-distant future!

Janet, how are you reducing your tangles and SSKs whilst wearing your wash and go's ?

TIA

I use a leave-in and a paddle brush/denman to detangle and define my curls...

 

[LadyRaider]

Thanks for this thread.

Janet... what are you doing that makes your wash n gos work well for retaining length?
I love wash and gos, but I am worried they are not best for gaining length. I don't gets SSKs or tangles, however. My hair does seem to get "dry" feeling faster though.

As for cold weather. This is the first week down here, really. I did a wash and go last Friday, and I haven't washed my hair since due to the cold weather. I wear my hair in two french braids a lot... today I wore a donut bun.

I'm looking forward to more of the replies in this thread.

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

I chose "other" because it's a last resort for me. I did lots of wash`n`go's last fall/winter and it resulted in lots of split ends. I'm plan to keep my hair stretched (in braids or twists) and under beanies, scarves, etc. this fall/winter.

 

[LadyRaider]

So can you use the diffuser on hair that is prone to frizz? I am worried my hair will be one ball of hair after I diffuse.

I plan to wash at night, put my Carefree on to keep it moisturized, then reapply alittle in the A.M. to refresh my curls. I don't know if that's RIGHT but that's what I plan to "try". LOL Its working thus far.

I don't know how this would work over night... but...

The cutest wash and go I ever had was last Thursday. I had washed my hair that morning and instead of wearing it down, I'd braided it in one french braid in the back while it was still wet. I went most of the day like that, and when I got home I pulled it down and I had THE most defined cute curls ever. I even wore my hair down when I went to water aerobics because it was so perfectly cute.

 

[Janet']

Thanks for this thread.

Janet... what are you doing that makes your wash n gos work well for retaining length?
I love wash and gos, but I am worried they are not best for gaining length. I don't gets SSKs or tangles, however. My hair does seem to get "dry" feeling faster though.

As for cold weather. This is the first week down here, really. I did a wash and go last Friday, and I haven't washed my hair since due to the cold weather. I wear my hair in two french braids a lot... today I wore a donut bun.

I'm looking forward to more of the replies in this thread.

LadyRaider,

I make sure I apply an ample amount of moisturizer (leave-in, water, and EVOO) and for me it's a very low-manipulation style. I am not touching it and I lose minimal hair through detangling (one good time at the beginning of the week). I may have to use the brush to define a few curls in the back, but for the most part it is the ultimate low-manipulation hair style...thus I retain...

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Great thread, Janet! I used to wash n go all winter with no problem. I had a TWA then. I am definitely looking forward to the future of having longer natural hair. The greatest thing is if my WNG turned into a wash N I just throw on my trusty braid wig and call it a day.

 

[Tene]

Last year I co washed everyday, this year I've only been co washing 1 to 2 days a week. On the days I co wash I use a diffuser. Other than that I use a moisturizing spray to refresh my wash n gos.

 

[JC-Junkie]

Your hair!!! Girl



Yes ma'am, this will be you in the not-to-distant future!



I use a leave-in and a paddle brush/denman to detangle and define my curls...

Thanks What leave in do you use ? Is it creamy/ thick or watery ?

 

[ckisland]

I'm going to be doing wash n'goes all winter and into the next year because it's what my hair loves. I could do 2 ponytails at night and spritz in the morning to keep a wash n'go for a week, but I'm too lazy for that. I'm in the shower everyday anyway, so why not get my hair wet? I don't get any head colds from leaving the house with a wet head everyday . One thing I did find out recently is that my hair loves to be drenched with water and simply sealed or moisturized with leave-in . I've done this for the past 2 days, essentially doing a rinse n'go, and my hair's been super-duper soft. My guess is that it gives the natural oils in my hair a chance to move down the hair shaft. But I dunno . I'm going to experiment next week with doing 2 cowashes (1 to detangle) and rinsing for the rest of the week.

 

[Janet']

Thanks What leave in do you use ? Is it creamy/ thick or watery ?

I use Mixed Chicks leave-in and it is a thick and creamy leave-in.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

I'm starting to alternate wash and gos with stretched hair I'm finding that I don't need to re -wet my entire head to achieve the same look. If I go in the shower and only co-wash the bottom half of my head it dries within an hour and I dont have wet roots...the roots are what takes the longest for my hair to dry.

 

[rockstar]

rockstar, you hair is beautiful!
Did diffusing happen to make you WnG last longer? I can't imagine diffusing every morning..

I've mostly been wearing ponytails since it's gotten colder, and while it is still wet when I leave in the morning it's not on my neck/clothes so it's not too bad. I also don't like how big WnG's look with my winter style.
This is my first winter with natural hair too, last year I also straightened.

Thanks Grand Prix! I only wash and diffuse my hair once a week. I wear it out for 3 days, pony tail for 2 or 3 days, then bun 1 or 2 days.

To preserve the WnG look, I pineapple my hair like Taren916 from youtube. Basically you pull your hair in a loose pony tail on the very top of your head by your hairline and forehead. You look like a unicorn. Not all of my hair is long enough for this super high pony tail. I then put my satin bonnet on. Whatever isn't long enough, I smooth in an upward position and place the bonnet over top.

In the morning I do spray my hair LIGHTLY. I don't saturate it, but I do provide some moisture. If there's a frizzy area I use Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel.

This is *hopefully* will be my first winter with natural un-straightened hair!!

 

[beautyaddict1913]

Since I recently big chopped I was so anxious to try a wash and go and did one last week. My hair took years and tears to dry. Even after using the blow dryer, I guess I missed some spots. It started getting cool last week so I knew then I wouldnt be washing and going anywhere until April! Plus I wanna obtain more length before I do this style again! My hair shrank to chin length with this method lol!

 

[LadyRaider]

Janet,
Are you worried about your ends brushing your neck/shoulders? Or do you think the curled ends remedy this?

My hair loves Coco Creme Leave In. If I do it right, that's all it needs. No gel. However, a student recommend I try baby oil gel and see how that works. And like I said, most of the time my hair is pretty dry by the evening.

 

[Janet']

^^^Well, now that my hair is getting longer, I have begun wearing it in wash n go pony's if that makes any sense...Looking at my siggy is where my hair stopped in August...Attached is where it now stops, so I have resorted to the other attached pic because I don't want to be counterproductive. I was a SL lady for years because I didn't put 2 and 2 together that my hair was brushing against my shoulders and clothes! Good point, LadyRaider!!!